Street Fighter Alpha 3 (Game)

Street Fighter Alpha 3

GAME » on June 29, 1998

Arcade (Platform)Dreamcast (Platform)Game Boy Advance (Platform)PlayStation (Platform)PlayStation Network (PS3) (Platform)PlayStation Network (PSP) (Platform)Saturn (Platform)

The last and largest installment of the Street Fighter Alpha trilogy adds even more characters while adding three unique "fighting styles" (each with special abilities and traits). GO FOR BROKE!

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Overview

Street Fighter Alpha 3, known in some countries as Street Fighter Zero 3, is a 2D fighting game developed and released by Capcom (Company) for arcades (using the CPS-2 hardware) on June 29, 1998.

The third and final main installment of the spin-off Street Fighter Alpha (Franchise) trilogy, Street Fighter Alpha 3 builds on its predecessor with a new visual and audio style, nine new playable fighters (including Sakura's schoolgirl rival Karin and Japanese wrestler R. Mika), new gameplay mechanics (such as the "Guard Crush" system, which leaves players vulnerable if they block too much), and a new system of "fighting styles", where players pick from three systems of special abilities and traits.

The game received numerous ports and updates since its first release, adding eight playable fighters (for a grand total of 36) and new game modes (most notably the World Tour mode, which allows players to build up their character in a single-player campaign). It is one of the few arcade games to receive multiple arcade versions on completely different hardware (CPS-2 and NAOMI).

Gameplay

Two different -isms, with A-ism on the left and V-ism on the right.

The game uses the standard Street Fighter control scheme featuring three kicks and three punches of varying strength and a joystick for movement and blocking. Special and super moves are performed by inputing specific combinations of attack buttons and joystick motions. The game also includes some basic recovery moves and some counters performed by precisely timed button presses and joystick motions.

Fighting Styles

Moving away from the "Normal" and "Auto" player modes, Street Fighter Alpha 3 introduced multiple fighting styles (called "Isms") for the player to choose from, each including their own Super Gauge system, special abilities, color schemes, and traits:

Standard (A-ism)

Based on previous Street Fighter Alpha games (and known as Z-ism in some versions), A-ism gives players a green three-level super gauge. Players with A-ism have the most options for Super Combos (including powerful Max Super Combos which take up the entire super gauge).

Unlike previous games in the series, in which the level of the Super Combo is determined by the number of punch/kick buttons pressed, Street Fighter Alpha 3 allows players to determine which level of Super Combo to use based on the strength of the button pressed (Light for one level, Medium for two levels, and Heavy for all three levels).

Variable (V-ism)

Based on the Custom Combo system used in Street Fighter Alpha 2 (Game), V-ism gives players a simple blue super gauge (with a percentage indicator). While players cannot perform any Super Combo in this style, they can perform a Custom Combo by pressing two attack buttons of the same strength simultaneously (once they have at least 50% of their super gauge filled).

While the Custom Combo is activated, players can perform a long sequence of quick combo chains ,even if the opponent is being knocked down, as the super gauge depletes. The character leaves a shadow trail as Custom Combo is used (the gap between each shadow being determined by the strength used to activate Custom Combo), with the last shadow's attack dealing additional damage. If the player is attacked while their Custom Combo is activated, it is automatically deactivated and the player loses up to 50% of their super gauge.

While attacks dealt in V-ism deal less damage, players can determine the range of their attacks (Far Attacks vs. Close Attacks, usually determined by the distance between them and their opponent) based on the position of the joystick. This creates some new mind-game opportunities and combo choices. In addition, Alpha Counters now take up half of the super gauge.

Simple (X-ism)

Similar to the system used in Super Street Fighter II Turbo (Game), X-ism gives players a simple red super gauge. While they have less technical ability (such as being able to perform Air Blocks, Recovery Rolls, Alpha Counters, and Taunts), less Super Combo options, and less damage resistance, players with X-ism can deal more damage from their attacks and can withstand more blocked attacks before getting Guard Crushed.

While in X-ism, some characters have their movelists changed to resemble their SSF2T counterparts, such as changing M. Bison's Psycho Shot projectile to his traditional Psycho Crusher attack and removing Ryu's fake fireball motion. Other direct changes include changing Chun-Li's costume to resemble her Street Fighter II appearance, Sodom's weapons to a pair of katanas, Ryu's fireballs to match the SF2 version, and Gen's multiple styles to one simple combination of both.

The Final Boss version of M. Bison has a modified version of X-ism which gives him access to all technical abilities and Super Combo options in addition to his X-ism bonuses.

Special Modes

In addition to the "Ism" system, players can use a cheat code prior to selecting a fighting style to get a secret modifier:

Mazi - Damage taken and inflicted are increased. Cannot lose a single round.
Saikyo - Attacks inflict less damage. Much easier to get dizzied and Guard Crushed. Cannot perform basic combos.
Classic - X-ism automatically enabled. Cannot perform any Super Combos and cannot use the Air Recovery technique. Cannot be Guard Crushed.

Game Modes

World Tour (Console)

In World Tour mode a player chooses a fighter and then levels up the fighter by winning stages set in different countries around a virtual map. Each spot on the map has different rules and different opponents for the player to overcome. After completing a stage a character earns experience points based on how well they performed in the stage. For instance, if a character were to perfect a fight he would gain more experience than if they ended the round with a sliver of health remaining. The character advances in level in two separate areas their overall level and their level in a specific "-ism". Every few levels a character receives bonus skills that allow for super meter regeneration or other nice additions. Depending on which of the three "-isms" the character has equipped they gain different skills that help boost their selected fighting style. A character also gains points that can be applied to raise offensive power or defensive power. However, for every point added there is also a point removed from the opposite stat. Advancing to the end of world tour mode unlocks Guile, Evil Ryu, and Shin Akuma as playable characters.

Updates & Ports

Since its original arcade release, the game received numerous updates on its home console versions (with some serving as the basis for an upgraded arcade port):

The game was first ported to the PlayStation (Platform) on December 23, 1998 (in Japan) and April 30, 1999 (in North America), adding four new playable fighters (Dee Jay (Character), Fei Long (Character), Guile (Character), and T. Hawk, completing the cast of Street Fighter II), three unlockable variations (including Evil Ryu and Shin Akuma), and a new World Tour mode (in which players strengthen their character by leveling them up and granting them special buffs in a single-player campaign). The Japanese version also had use with the PocketStation. This port was digitally re-released for the PlayStation 3 (Platform) and PlayStation Portable (Platform) (both via PlayStation Network (Concept)) on October 18, 2011 (in North America) and December 3, 2014 (in Japan).
The PS1 version was later updated in a port to the Dreamcast (Platform) on July 8, 1999 (in Japan as Street Fighter Zero 3: Saiko-ryu Dojo) and May 31, 2000 (in North America), changing its World Tour mode (and methods for unlocking some secret characters) while adding a new Saikyo Dojo mode (in which players download powerful AI opponents to fight with their World Tour characters and post the results online). A special mail-order version (titled Street Fighter Zero 3: Saiko-ryu Dojo for Matching Service) was released for Japan in 2001, adding online multiplayer.
A separate update for the PlayStation version was the basis for a port to the Saturn (Platform) (in Japan only) on August 6, 1999, changing the methods for unlocking some secret characters while revamping the Dramatic Battle mode.
The Dreamcast version was used as the basis for Street Fighter Zero 3 Upper, a 2001 Japan-exclusive arcade port for the NAOMI hardware. Along with the added characters, this version allowed players to import their World Tour characters through a special VMU slot (in similar vein to the Japanese version of Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes).
The game was ported by Crawfish to the Game Boy Advance (Platform) on September 27, 2002 (in Japan) and December 1, 2002 (in North America). Stylized in-game as Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper (but released as Street Fighter Zero 3 Upper in Japan), this version includes all characters from the previous console versions and three new unlockable characters (Eagle, Maki, and Yun (Character), all based on their Capcom Vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium appearances). However, the game does not include any bonus game modes added in previous console versions.
The DC version was later updated in a port to the PlayStation Portable (Platform) on January 19, 2006 (in Japan as Street Fighter Zero 3 Double Upper) and February 7, 2006 (in North America as Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX). Along with a variety of game modes (including various online multiplayer modes, and a new "Vs. 100 Kumite" mode) and the three additional characters from the GBA version (already unlocked), this version includes Ingrid (Character) from Capcom Fighting Evolution (Game).
Both arcade versions (the "Alpha 3 Upper" version as a secret unlockable) are included in the Street Fighter Alpha Anthology (Game) compilation (released on June 13, 2006 for the PlayStation 2 (Platform)). In addition, the compilation has a secret unlockable "Hyper Street Fighter Alpha" game based on Street Fighter Alpha 3 (where players can pick earlier versions of characters for versus matches, including secret fighting modes loosely based on other Capcom fighting games).
The original version was later digitally re-released for arcades in December 4, 2014 via the NESiCAxLive (Concept) platform for the PC (Platform)-based Taito Type X² system. Released exclusively in Japan, this system allowed players to keep track of their Versus Mode stats via a special card and included online leaderboards.
The original version was included in the 2018 Street Fighter 30th Anniversary compilation for the Xbox One (Platform), PlayStation 4 (Platform), Nintendo Switch (Platform), and PC (Platform).

Characters

The game's original roster includes 28 playable fighters, nine of which are new additions. Four of them are brand new characters (Karin, R. Mika, Juli (Character), and Juni (Character)), while three of them are hidden opponents playable with a cheat code (Balrog (Character), Juli, and Juni).

The console and Street Fighter Zero 3 Upper versions of the game added the remaining four characters from the Street Fighter II (Franchise) series (totaling at 32 playable fighters) and two character variations (Evil Ryu and Shin Akuma). The GBA version adds three additional unlockable fighters from Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium while the PSP version also adds Ingrid (Character) from Capcom Fighting Evolution (Game) (bringing the total roster to 36).

Because of the X-ism fighting style, there are no longer hidden Super Street Fighter II Turbo (Game) variants for some characters. Other than Evil Ryu and Shin Akuma, Balrog has a hidden unlockable variation in the console versions while M. Bison has a "Final" variation used as the game's final boss (unplayable in the arcade version, unlocked in most console versions).

New Characters

Karin - A rich Japanese schoolgirl and a self-styled rival of Sakura, fighting with her own unique martial art style (known as Kanzuki-ryu).
R. Mika - A Japanese professional wrestler (with the stage name "Rainbow Mika") who fights various martial artists around the world as her marketing gimmick.
Cody - A street brawler from the U.S.A. and one of the heroes of Metro City (Location) (alongside Guy (Character) and Haggar), who became incarcerated due to his addiction to street fighting. He was originally from Final Fight (Game).
Blanka (Character) - A beastman from Brazil (Location) who unwittingly traveled to civilization for the first time. He was originally from Street Fighter II (Franchise).
E. Honda - A Japanese sumo wrestler traveling the world to prove the might of sumo. He was originally from Street Fighter II.
Vega (Character) - A Spanish assassin working for Shadaloo, assigned to apprehend the rogue Cammy. Originally from Street Fighter II and known in the Japanese versions as Balrog.
Juni & Juli - Two of M. Bison's elite brainwashed bodyguards (known as the "Dolls") of unknown origin. They are "palette swaps" of Cammy, sharing her appearance and most of her moveset. They fight together as a sub-boss for some characters, and are playable separately with cheat codes (and later made playable from the start in all updated versions).
Balrog (Character) - A former heavyweight boxing champion from the U.S.A. who serves as a high-ranking enforcer for Shadaloo. He was originally from Street Fighter II and is known in the Japanese versions as M. Bison. He is a sub-boss for some characters and is playable with a cheat code, later made playable from the start in all updated versions.

Returning Characters

Ryu (Character) - He has a hidden "Evil" version in all updated versions, which is unlockable in the PS1 and GBA versions.
Ken -
Charlie (Character) -
Rose -
Dan -
Sakura -
Birdie (Character) -
Adon (Character) -
Sagat (Character) -
Gen (Character) -
Guy (Character) -
Sodom (Character) -
Rolento (Character) -
Chun-Li -
Dhalsim (Character) -
Zangief (Character) -
Cammy (Character) -
M. Bison - Known in the Japanese versions as Vega. He has a more powerful "Final" version used as the final boss for most characters, which is only playable in most console versions as an unlockable.
Akuma (Character) - Known in the Japanese versions as Gouki. He has a hidden powerful "Shin" version in all updated versions as an unlockable.

Added in Later Releases

Added in all updated versions:

Dee Jay (Character) - Originally from Super Street Fighter II.
Fei Long (Character) - Originally from Super Street Fighter II.
T. Hawk - Originally from Super Street Fighter II.
Guile (Character) - Originally from Street Fighter II. Unlockable in the PS1 and GBA versions, available from the start in all other versions.

Added in the GBA and PSP versions:

Eagle - Originally from Street Fighter (Game) and based on his appearance in Capcom vs. SNK 2. Unlockable in the GBA version, available from the start in the PSP version.
Maki - Originally from Final Fight 2 (Game) and based on her appearance in Capcom vs. SNK 2. Unlockable in the GBA version, available from the start in the PSP version.
Yun (Character) - Originally from Street Fighter III (Franchise) and based on her appearance in Capcom vs. SNK 2. Unlockable in the GBA version, available from the start in the PSP version.

Added in the PSP version:

Ingrid (Character) - Originally from Capcom Fighting Evolution (Game) and based on her appearance in that game.

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